There’s something delightfully festive about bite-sized treats that look like holiday magic — that’s exactly why I adore this Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe. Crisp edges meet soft, gooey centers, all layered and frosted into charming little Christmas trees that bring joy before you even take a bite!

Three small, stacked chocolate cake towers each have three layers. Between and on top of the layers is smooth, bright green frosting shaped like Christmas tree branches. The frosting has red, white, and green round sprinkles, and a small yellow star sits on the very top of each tower. The cakes sit on a white napkin decorated with colored Christmas lights, all placed on a white marbled surface. Some small yellow star decorations are scattered around. In the background, there is green pine tree foliage. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, this Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe quickly became my go-to festive treat for gatherings. It’s simple enough to whip up on a busy weeknight but special enough to impress a crowd — plus, who can resist tiny tree-shaped brownies covered in perfect swirls of green frosting?

Festive Fun: Transforming brownies into trees makes baking playful and festive — so kids and adults both get excited.
Easy Layering: Using cookie cutters to stack brownie rounds gives you those perfect tree shapes every time.
Customizable: You can tweak the frosting color, sprinkles, or even add flavors to match your holiday vibe.
Great for Parties: These snackable brownies are a hit on dessert tables and easy to share around.

The image shows three Christmas tree-shaped cupcakes placed on a white marbled surface with a colorful string light pattern underneath. Each cupcake has three layers of dark brown cake, stacked from largest to smallest from bottom to top. Between each cake layer is a thick swirl of bright green frosting that looks smooth and creamy. The top layer is decorated with the same green frosting shaped like a pointed tree top, sprinkled with small red, white, and green round sprinkles, and finished with a yellow star candy on the very top. Around the cupcakes, there are green pine branches adding a festive feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients here come together to balance richness, sweetness, and holiday cheer. Using a boxed brownie mix keeps things simple, while homemade frosting brings that fresh, buttery touch that truly makes these treats pop.

Flat lay of a block of baked and cooled brownie with a rich chocolate texture, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of golden vegetable oil, a small white bowl of clear water, a small white bowl filled with powdered white sugar, a stick of pale yellow softened butter, a small white bowl of creamy milk, a small white bowl of green frosting vividly colored, a small white bowl containing tiny colorful holiday sprinkles, and a small yellow star-shaped sugar decoration, all arranged in perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic dishes, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Brownie mix: I stick to my favorite brand for a reliably fudgy base, but you can use any that you love.
Eggs, vegetable oil, and water: These are the classic brownie mix companions to get just the right texture.
Powdered sugar: Essential for smooth, sweet frosting that holds its shape perfectly.
Butter: Softened butter adds richness and creaminess to the frosting, making it heavenly to spread and pipe.
Vanilla extract: A subtle flavor boost that enhances the sweetness without overpowering.
Milk: Used sparingly to get the frosting to the perfect consistency — not too runny, not too stiff.
Green food coloring: For that festive tree-green frosting that’s totally eye-catching.
Holiday sprinkles & yellow stars: Because nothing says celebration like a sprinkle-covered tree topped with a golden star.
Disposable piping bag and Wilton Star tip 1m: These tools make frosting application easy and give that classic tree texture.
Round cookie/biscuit cutters: Having three sizes lets you build perfect layered trees from the largest base to the smallest treetop.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to play around with this Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe, depending on the season or who I’m serving. You can easily swap sprinkles for nuts or mini chocolate chips if you want a bit of crunch, or even swap green for red or white frosting for a different vibe.

Variation: One year I added a hint of peppermint extract to the frosting — it was a total holiday hit, giving those brownies a festive twist that was unexpected but delicious.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe

Step 1: Bake and Cool Your Brownies

Start with your brownie mix according to package instructions — I usually add the eggs, oil, and water right into the bowl and stir just until everything’s combined. Bake as directed, but keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook. You want a fudgy, slightly sticky texture that’s perfect for cutting without crumbling. Once baked, let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This cooling step is crucial so your brownie trees won’t fall apart when you start cutting and stacking.

Step 2: Whip Up the Green Frosting

While your brownies are cooling, mix your frosting. Combine powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until it’s thick but spreadable—this frosting consistency is perfect for piping soft, classic Christmas tree "branches." Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until you get that pretty, festive shade. Using a disposable piping bag fitted with a Wilton Star tip 1m will give you those lovely ridges when you frost your brownie layers.

Step 3: Cut Brownie Circles With Cookie Cutters

Here’s where the magic happens: grab your 3 round cookie cutters of varying sizes and gently cut out circles from your cooled brownies — no rush here; be gentle to keep the edges neat and intact. You’ll want enough sets of three circles for as many trees as you want to make. I usually get about 6-8 trees, perfect for a party platter.

Step 4: Frost and Stack Your Brownie Trees

Start by piping frosting onto the largest brownie round, then place the medium-sized circle right on top. Repeat with more frosting and the smallest round for the treetop. Finally, pipe a generous swirl of frosting at the top to mimic a tree peak. The star tip pattern really gives these brownie trees a charming, textured branch look. It’s so satisfying to watch them stack and come to life!

Step 5: Decorate With Stars and Sprinkles

Top each frosted tree with a yellow star and scatter your favorite holiday sprinkles all over. I love using colorful tiny pearls and mini candy shapes — they instantly make your brownie trees feel extra festive and inviting. Let the frosting firm up a bit before serving, especially if you’re stacking trays for a party.

Top Tip

From my experience, the secret to these Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe looking perfect is all in the cutting and frosting steps — patience truly pays off here. I’ve learned a few tricks that make the process easier and the result more magical.

Chill the Brownies First: Cooling brownies thoroughly lets them firm up, so they cut cleanly without crumbling.
Use Sharp Cutters: Make sure your cookie cutters are sharp-edged and wipe them clean after each cut for tidy circles.
Pipe Slowly and Steadily: Don't rush the frosting — a steady hand helps create those signature ridged branches with the star tip.
Softened Butter is Key: The frosting is so much smoother and easier to work with when the butter is at room temperature, trust me on that one.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe

Brownie Christmas Trees - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep things classic with yellow star candies and a mix of red-and-white holiday sprinkles—simple and cheerful. Sometimes I toss on some edible glitter for a little shimmer when I want to make dessert tables pop. The key is to add a touch of sparkle that matches your other festive decor.

Side Dishes

These brownie trees pair beautifully with a hot cup of spiced cider or peppermint hot chocolate. If you're hosting a holiday party, some fresh fruit skewers or a creamy cheesecake dip make great companions — sweet and fresh help balance the richness of the brownies.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive flair, arrange your Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks on a platter lined with pine boughs or twinkling fairy lights. I’ve even crafted little “snowdrifts” from coconut flakes sprinkled around the base for that snowy forest feel. Adding a few mini ornaments or ribbon-tied serving tongs makes this dessert truly party-ready.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually keep any leftover Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks in an airtight container in the fridge. They hold up well for up to 3 days without losing their freshness or frosting shape. Just let them come to room temperature before serving again — the fudgy brownie texture really shines when it’s not ice-cold.

Freezing

If you want to prep ahead, these brownie trees freeze nicely before frosting. After cutting the brownie rounds, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then frost and decorate fresh on the day you serve. I’ve tried freezing fully assembled trees, but the frosting tends to get a little crumbly after thawing.

Reheating

Brownie trees taste best at room temperature. If you want warm brownies, I suggest reheating just the brownie rounds (before frosting) in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Then frost and decorate so the topping stays fresh and pretty.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! Just swap out the boxed brownie mix for your favorite gluten-free brand or homemade gluten-free brownie recipe. The frosting and decorating steps stay the same. Just be sure all sprinkles and decorations are gluten-free too.

How do I keep the frosting from melting?

Keeping the brownies cool before frosting helps a lot. Also, use softened butter (not melted) for a thicker frosting consistency that holds up better. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate assembled brownies briefly to set the frosting before serving.

Can I decorate the brownie trees with other frosting tips?

Definitely! While the star tip 1m is classic for creating branches, a round tip or leaf tip can make cute variations. Get creative—the key is to pipe frosting in layers to mimic tree branches.

What’s the best way to transport these to a party?

Place the finished brownie trees in a sturdy box with a layer of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keep the box cool, and avoid stacking it too high. Transport in a flat, secure spot in your car to maintain their shape.

Final Thoughts

This Brownie Christmas Tree Snacks Recipe brings me so much joy every holiday season. It’s really more than just a dessert — it’s a little festive project that makes your kitchen feel cozy and your table look magical. I hope you’ll have as much fun making and sharing these as I do. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll be one of those treats everyone remembers and asks for again!